Visit to Hyde Park text

I had a meeting last week at West Point where I am a member of the Board of advisors for the Geology and Environmental Engineering Progeam, and Mom went with me. We visited Franklin D. Roosevelt's home and libreary and one of the 43 van der Bilt mansions (the smallest one, actually), both located in Hyde Park, NY, about an hour from West Point. We had a great time. Unfortunately, my camera battery was almost dead, and I forgot to bring a charger, so I didn't get many pictures, but the leaf colors were gorgeous! They told us the peak color day occurred the day before we arrived, and the day we were there was cloudy and rainy but they were still pretty. The pictures don't do them justice. See the trees reflecting in the Hudson River, the Roosevelt house, and the Mansion in the pictures (posted before this without text, due to technical difficulties). The mansion reminded us of the opulence of Crazy Ludwig's Linderhoff Castle in Germany. The guide told us the mansion was representative of the Gilded Age in America. There was no real Royalty in the US, but the van der Bilts and others of their ilk felt that they were the substitute for it in the US, and they lived like it. The mansion was amazingly ornate and oozed wealth, being furnished with antiques from all over Europe. The mansion had electricity before the town of Hyde Park, and the townsfolk would come out in droves on Friday evenings and party along the road and fence line at dusk to watch the electric lights come on in the mansion and on the mansion grounds.

Visit to Hyde Park, New York

Family Reunion

I have heard some rumors that there may be some issues with the family reunion this summer.

I just wanted to revisit the topic and see if we are all still able to go. I have been watching ticket prices and while I do not plan on buying them anytime soon, I want to be SURE we are still on.

Anyone have any thoughts, or things to add?

Harbour Pointe Church Building Arson

Do you remember this building? This is the building that Ralph and I got married in and the Richards' family went to church in when they lived in Mukilteo, Washington. Saturday morning an arsonist set a fire to the building and it is a total loss. If you want to read more I have attatched the web site of the local newspaper so you can read it if you would like.

www.heraldnet.com/article/20101016/news01/710169856/1122

If this page does not work, you can go to the Everett Herald, Washington on Google and it should take you there. Or I can try to send you the page in e-mail form.


www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39699708 (this is another web page you can look at.)

Thank you!

My sister Lindsey flew into the States from Germany last night--at midnight. And guess who picked her and her husband and children up? Mom. I called this morning to see if they had gotten in (I thought their plane was coming in at 10:30, which is still late to be driving to Baltimore to pick up strangers) and my sister answered the phone. She said, "You have the best in-laws in the world. Seriously." As if I didn't already know that.


I do have the best in-laws. I hear horror stories from people about their in-laws and I just shake my head. That really happens? People really treat each other that way? Mom's really don't just opens their arms to their sons wives? Daughters don't just try and fit in and adjust to their husband's family?

I am very grateful to be a part of this family and I'm very happy to have the in-laws I have.

When I was talking to my sister I said, "Carol must be a walking zombie today" and Isaac overheard me and started laughing. When I hung up he said, "Grandma's a walking zombie? That's so cool!" And then he and Eli walked around being zombies, "I'm a walking zombie...I'm going to eat you...I want to be a skeleton forever...." So, Grandma, if you are in fact a walking zombie today, I'm sorry because I know that means you had to wake up and go pick my sister up. But, thank you! (and just know that the boys think that's awesome!)

I did it!!!

YES!! I finished passing off my articles of faith to Mom and Dad!! Whoot Whoot!!
Mike Richards also finished his, but did not get on the blog and shout and be excited about it, so I will say "Yeehaw!! Good job Mike!!"
Also, I will encourage the rest of you to call and pass off the articles of faith. Not only do you get to refresh your memory, teach your children and earn money from Grandpa!!! but you also get to phone your fabulous parents each day and bother them until you are done!! You can phone them even when you are done... they like to be bothered, or at least that is what Mom keep telling me when I call her 20 times a day. Right Mom???
Anyway, here is a shout of encouragement for all of you:

YOU CAN DO IT!!

Mikayla is almost there, too!! I will be anyone's cheerleader, but without the skimpy outfit.

I'm sure I will blog again when I decide what to spend MY money on, as it is MY money, it will not go into the budget!!

Good luck to all of you!!

One last thing, it was 80 degree here the other day... in October, in North Dakota!! We are lovin' it!